Madame Cristobel's Secret — Sharon Sobel

Madame Cristobel, unmoving and mysterious, an automaton who has sat in the shadows for a generation, observes the human drama in the antiquarian shop where she remains a curiosity. No one has yet unlocked her secrets. For Francesca Wadsworth, purveyor of fine curiosities, Madame Cristobel is a silent partner, though one who seems to urge her to escape, seek adventure, and find her place in the world. Nathaniel Endicott has already seen the world and returns to England with the skills of a watchmaker and the belief that Madame Cristobel holds the clue to his future. The histories of two ancient families intersect in the crowded London shop, where the automaton bears witness to Francesca and Nathaniel's attraction to each other, the doubts keeping them apart, and the tantalizing hope that her secret will finally be theirs to share.